Proposed Bulacan Airport to boost
Malicious cement label, discovered
economy
- Sen. Gordon
Senator Richard J. Gordon sees the construction of the proposed Bulacan International Airport as an opportunity to boost the country’s economy and provide jobs for thousands of Filipinos as the Senate unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 7597, which grants a 50-year franchise for San Miguel AeroCity, Inc. (SMAI) to construct and operate the airport. “I am happy to co-sponsor 1 PIA Bulletin Online
this bill principally because it is a no-brainer in terms of development. It is something we need that will enhance other airports like Clark, Subic, and the New Manila International Airport,” Gordon said Monday in the plenary. Sen. Gordon also disclosed possible partnership with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for possible investments in Central Luzon that can generate more jobs and boost country’s economy.
With its commitment to serve the Filipino cement consumers, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) eyes counter-checking cement products to ensure that these are truly manufactured locally with ensured quality. There have been reports of malicious and inappropriately labelled cement products circulating in the different parts of the country. This issue was brought to the attention of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Based on the CeMAP’s report to DTI dated January 28, 2020, the Union V Super Strength 40 manufactured by Philcement Corporation were labelled “Product of the Philippines”. CeMAP elaborated that it is publicly known that Philicement Corporation is one of the companies engaged in cement importation. “Further, the PS License Number was not printed on the bags and that the Batch Identification Number and Manufacturing Date were not understandable to consumers, both of which are required by the Philippine National Standards (PNS),” said Cirilo Pestaño, CeMAP executive director. Pestaño emphasized that CeMAP simply wants to know if all of Philcement’s products are indeed manufactured in the Philippines as indicated on their cement bags. Philcement is yet to respond to the query. Meanwhile, concerned government offices are urged to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter.
145 Films sa Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4
By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will showcase at least 145 films for this years ‘Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4’ (PPP4) which will have its first online edition from October 31 to November 15 at FDCP’s new Online Channel. “This year ’s PPP is a solidarity event that aims to encourage support for Philippine Cinema in light of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to propagate the love for Filipino films among audiences and help sustain the country’s film industry that is gravely affected by the crisis. All
proceeds will be given to producers involved in the festival through revenue sharing,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. PPP4 offers local film festivals like the Cinemalaya P h i l i p p i n e Independent Film Festival, QCinema International Film Festival, Cinema One Originals Film Festival, Sinag Maynila Film Festival, CineFilipino Film Festival, ToFarm Film Festival, and Metro Manila Film Festival as well as from various producers and regional film festivals, a PPP Retrospective, the Lab portion of the
Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, and the CineMarya W o m e n ’ s Film Festival. PPP4 offers subscription options such as the Full Run Pass (PHP 599) that grants a 16day access to the Premium Selection films and events, free content, free panel sessions/ w o r k s h o p s , c a l e n d a r, and trailers. The Half Run Pass (PHP 299) provides access to the short films library and fulllength scheduled screenings for eight consecutive days, the Day Pass (PHP 99) gives access to the short films library and fulllength scheduled films for one day.
Editorial Director Benjamin R. Felipe Editor-In-Chief Marie Angelie Villapando Associate Editors Melinda Quiñones Staff Writers IDPD headed by Joselito Reyes Art Department CPSD headed by Bradley de Leon
FDCP Chair Liza Diño
Production/ Aggregation DDCU with Team Leader Kate Shiene Agna
PRC’ s E-Feedback Mechanism
By Teresita Negrillo - PIA/IDPD
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) launched the “Client Relationship Management System (CRMS)” to virtually track and monitor the quality of frontline services being delivered. This e-feedback mechanism allows clients to electronically submit service requests and feedback on the services they received from various PRC offices, anytime, at the comfort of their digital devices. The CRMS is expected to provide an accurate and reliable system of clients’ feedback reporting, which can be utilized in management planning and decision making. This PRC’s initiative to promote zero-contact policy in government processes also demonstrates its ability to digitally adapt to the “new normal” while still providing effective positive client relationships. To know more please visit crms.prc.gov.ph or www.prc.gov.ph.
Photo: Professional Regulation Commission
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BSP unveils digital payment transformation roadmap By Marites B. Paneda (PhilSys), and - PIA/IDPD supported by the The Bangko availability of a nextSentral ng Pilipinas generation payment (BSP) unveils the and settlement to digital payment facilitate real-time transformation processing of financial roadmap for 2020transaction. 2023 which charts These objectives its current initiatives are anchored on three and strategies in critical pillars namely: advancing an efficient, inclusive, safe, 1. Development and secure digital of digital payment payments ecosystem. streams which will This roadmap accelerate wider identifies key acceptance and use strategic objectives to among individuals, strengthen customer business and the preference for digital government; payments and the availability of more 2. Establishment innovative digital of the necessary financial products and digital finance services designed infrastructure to be responsive to facilitate to the needs of interoperability in consumers, enabled the digital payments’ by a digital ID or the ecosystem, allowing so-called Philippine providers to offer Identification System a wider array of
Photo: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
affordable products and services; and 3. Implementation of the digital governance standards that will safeguard the integrity and
privacy of consumer data, and ensure appropriate governance and regulation of digital products and services. According to BSP Governor Benjamin E.
Diokno, the launch of the Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap aims to hit two birds with one stone in a cash-heavy Philippine economy into a cash-lite economy.
Zubiri to DA: Limit imports, support local
On Friday’s Senate hearing for the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri urged the department to help local farmers by limiting imports and penalizing technical smuggling of imported products. “I’m speaking on behalf of our corn farmers, dito 3 PIA Bulletin Online
po sa Bukidnon. The importation of feed wheat has drastically brought down their prices. ’Yung dried corn umaabot na ng Php 9.00 per kilo, meron pang Php 8.00 per kilo, napakababa,” Zubiri lamented “And our farmers here have very good crops, MC 14—moisture content 14—na ’yan,” he pointed out. A moisture content of 14 percent is the recommended quality for Grade A corn, per the National Food Authority. “And we have a bumper crop now as well, record numbers of harvest, pero yung presyo, bagsak naman po dahil kalaban nila ang imports sa merkado.” “I am not totally averse to imports,” Zubiri clarified. “But we need to time it so that our local farmers are not competing with imported produce.” Agriculture Secretary William Dar assured him that the Department has begun working on a strategy to only allow importation of corn on the off-season of local harvest.
26,872 contact tracers hired and deployed to LGUs nationwide
By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD More than 26,872 contact tracers (CT) have been hired and deployed to various Local Government Units (LGUs) nationwide, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said. DILG Sec. Edduardo Año said that another 12,197 applicants have met the requirements of the position and are currently being processed for employment. “Bagaman matindi ang pangangailangan ng ating pamahalaan para sa mga CT ay tinitiyak namin na ang lahat ng maha-hire ay qualified sa posisyon at nagpahayag ng
commitment sa pinapasok nilang responsibilidad,” Año said. Among the responsibilities of Contact Tracers are to conduct interviews, profiling, and perform an initial public health risk assessment of COVID-19 cases and their identified close contacts; refer the close contacts to isolation facilities; conduct enhanced contact tracing in collaboration with other agencies and private sector; conduct daily monitoring of close and general contacts for at least 14 days, and perform such other tasks in relation to the COVID response.
#LALoveEat Photo of Chef Lemuel Guiyab of Silog (in Torrance, California) showcasing his grandmother’s Beef Pares recipe as his comfort food during his teenage years when he was still based in the Philippines. DILG Sec. Ed Año
Under the guidelines, contact tracers will earn a minimum of P18,784 per month on a contract of service status. DILG is also adopting the continuous hiring system until it has hired at least 50,000 contact tracers. Applicants should submit their application and documents to all DILG Provincial and City Field Offices nationwide or visit their websites for the posting of vacancies.
#LALoveat: Pinoy Food Stories online campaign
By Janine Alexa Tinsay - PIA/IDPD
The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles launched the two-month online campaign dubbed “#LALovEat: Pinoy Food Stories” on October 2 promoting Filipino Culinary Culture in the United States, #LALoveEat is a social media video series featuring Filipino dishes organized as a promotional thrust in celebration of October as Filipino American (Fil-Am) History Month. Besides mainstreaming Filipino culinary culture, the project also aims to endorse Filipinoowned small-and medium-scale enterprises to support Fil-Am restaurants whose operations have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Every Friday from October to November, the Consulate General will be uploading videos from special guests and participating establishments through its official page Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/PHLinLA_ and YouTube Channel: https:// www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRBL1Cr9obH3ArMKAr67snw. PIA Bulletin Online 4
Animal PCW calls for biotechnology gender-sensitive IEC materials webminar for public information By Vanessa Q. Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD
Aimed at improving the understanding and acceptance of animal biotechnology in the country, lawmakers and biotechnology experts highlighted the benefits of animal biotechnology in improving the health and welfare of animals. Organized by the House Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, the webinar held on Thursday, October 8, discussed the importance of improving the food security of the country, amid the pandemic, through the use of animal biotechnology Masbate Rep. Elisa Kho, chairperson of the Committee on Rural Development, said that, “the use of animal biotechnology, countries, including the Philippines, can overcome problems, such as the different diseases afflicting animals.” Rep. Kho went on to explain that in 2019 alone, more than 300 pigs were killed in the country because of the African Swine Fever. Dr. Claro Mingala, Chief of the Livestock Biotechnology Center of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), discussed ‘Animal Biotechnologies in the Philippines: Potentials and Benefits.’ Mingala said that benefits of animal biotechnology are; 1) advances in human health, 2) improvement of animal health and welfare by using vaccines, medicines, among others to produce safer food for human consumption, 3) enhancement of animal products, and 4) environmental conservation and protection.
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By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) calls on all government agencies to ensure gender sensitivity in all information, education, and communication (IEC) materials developed and disseminated for public information. The call was in line with the produced IEC material performed by public servants doing the “It Really Hurts” challenge imitating the dance move of a vlogger and comedian Mimiyuh in this challenge. PCW in its statement reiterates the provisions of the Magna Carta of Women known as RA 9710 that State and all its instrumentalities must endeavor to “raise the consciousness of women in the family community, and the society through the strategic use of mass media”, in line with the non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of women in all forms of media, communication, information dissemination, and advertising.
PCW added all must be cautious as to the gender sensitivity of all media content especially when it is targeted for the general public, as it is critical during this digital era when many government agencies harness the power of social media and hook into trends to spread information on their campaigns. As a guide, PCW encourages government agencies to use the Gender-Fair Media Guidebook that provides self-assessment tools before producing and posting IEC materials to assess first the elements on content, the portrayal of women, balance in representation, gender stereotyping, gender-neutral language, and social media etiquette.
Climate Change Commission calls for Policy, regulation on e-waste management
By Melinda Quiñones- PIA/IDPD
How do you dispose of your broken electronic gadgets like phones, computers, CDs, cassette tapes, and the likes? The Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for the development of a national policy and regulatory framework on e-waste management, as well as a national strategy and action plan for institutionalizing e-waste recycling and collection. In a press statement, the CCC said electronic gadgets that go to our trash bins are causing environmental problems as they release toxic chemicals harmful to humans, wildlife, and the climate. CCC Executive Director Emmanuel de Guzman reminded consumers of their critical role in
Photo: Philippine News Agency
purchasing electronic gadgets and recycling decisions as global electronic wastes have reached 53.6 million metric tons as of last year. De Guzman also urged public institutions and private companies, especially manufacturers and consumers, to cooperate in driving innovations into a circular economy as key to climate resilience and a sustainable future for Filipinos.
291,952 displaced OFWs benefit from DOLE-AKAP Program By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
A total of 291,952 displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) received cash aid under the DOLE-Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) Program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs provides financial assistance of USD200 or Php10,000 per affected OFW whether onsite or in the Philippines, who have been permanently or temporarily displaced from work, including the balik manggagawa who are unable to return to their workplace due to the pandemic,” DOLE Undersecretary for Labor Relations, Social Protection and Policy Support Cluster Benjo Santos Benavidez said during the virtual Dagyaw 2020 town hall meeting held October 15. As of October 13, Php2.980B had been disbursed and
payment has made through fund transfer to individual accounts of the OFWs. DOLE Department Order# 212-A series of 2020 or the supplemental guidelines on the provision of “DOLEAKAP for OFWs” provides amendment as to the coverage of the program and to hasten the evaluation of Philippine Overseas Labor and Office (POLO) in DOLE-AKAP applications of onsite OFWs. The following are eligible to apply in DOLE-AKAP Program:
employers have imposed at least 25% reduction in their monthly salaries •Holders of expired iqama/visa but with pending application for renewal as of Feb 2020.
AKAP applications will be facilitated and evaluated by POLO and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Field Offices. For approved AKAP applications, POLO will release the USD200 or its
equivalent in local currency through bank, money remittance, physical distribution, or any cost-effective method of payment that the POLO can utilize for the purpose of distributing the financial assistance to beneficiaries.
BI to enhance online appointment system
•Those who have experienced job displacement •Who are still at overseas jobsites; or stranded in the Philippines or countries where POLOs are present; or in the Philippines as Balik Manggagawa; or repatriated to the Philippines •Those whose
By Vanessa Q. Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announces its plans to improve the BI’s online appointment system to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. “The management recognizes concerns about limited availability of schedules in the system, but we deem this system as a necessity to lessen the risks of the public when transacting in our offices,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in BI’s official Facebook page. Morente said that included in their long-term plan is to implement a system for the separate appointment of accredited entities who submit bulk processing of applications. Bulk processing would lessen person-to-person contact, which would lower the risk of acquiring the virus. “I have also instructed that a regular assessment of the system be conducted to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness,” said Morente. “These are new systems and procedures, and we’re still in the early phases of its implementation. System assessments would allow us to fine tune this to better cater to the public,” he stated. It can be recalled that the BI implemented the online appointment system in June this year, to ensure that social distancing protocols are observed following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. PIA Bulletin Online 6